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The old watch that rested in his waistcoat pocket It was nearing ten o’clock, and he had received word earlier that day advising hiht from a certain Mr Wheeler It was business, and he was anxious to conclude it Better early than late, he thought “All right, Percy, and there is soo over it with you on our way back to the lodgings, but I want your mind to concentrate not on the lovely Sophy but on what I will be discussing with you”

“What can you possibly have to discuss with—”

“Come on We’ll take leave of our hostess” The ly on the shoulder

Sassy and Sophy were standing shoulder to shoulder at the entlelances Much of the party’s lure had lost its enchantment for Sassy when she’d watched theher way Froun to know Sophy’s manyon a brave face for the crowd

They each went through the uests left and Sassy retired to the rooht stay

She pulled the covers over her head, but this didn’t help her banish his face froht there, and she wished they had not been interrupted by Percy

And then she felt a sharp twinge pinch her heart when she thought of how he had left without even one backward glance for her

Thethe tall, darkly clad man who sat before hiuidly

The swarthy man removed his tri-cornered hat and opened his frieze coat before placing it in his lap “Eh now, ht to the point of it?” His eyes roved about the elegantly furnished room

“Just as you wish, but first, Mr Wheeler, would you like a glass of brandy?” The lass as he spoke

“Aye, now, a ball of fire be jest the thing,” replied the dark erly received his glass, and threw it down

The marquis’s broent up, and he smiled as he poured the man another Hea sip while he watched Wheeler smack his lips

“Eh now, this be pris prime?” The leer in the man’s eyes made the marquis stiffen in spite of himself

“Yes, you are correct in that assumption,” the marquis steeled himself to reply

“And you be having need of such merchandise in the very near future?” Wheeler pursued